Box-type container carton



Nov. 16, 1954 G. J. zANcK ET AL 2,694,518

BOX-TYPE CONTAINER CARTON Filed Feb. 27, 1950 ATTOB/VE Y.

United States Patent O BOX-TYPE CNTAINER CARTON Gerald Joseph Zanck andMax W. Matz, Chicago, lll.

Application February 27, 1950, Serial No. 146,524

6 Claims. (Cl. 229-15) Our invention relates to units of box type exiblecarton construction of the character generally used for commercialshipment for canned and bottled goods, and in particular to such unitConstruction designed to be assembled with at least one other such unitinto a duplex whereby the assembled container and contents may bemarketed for sale as an independent unit, duplex Where larger quantitiesare to be purchased, or frangibly separated into complete unitcontainers of smaller quantities.

Thus, in broader aspect, the invention provides a flexible cartonadapted to hold a minimum number of merchandise units such as cans orbottles, which unit is assembled with one or more other such units by afrangible band such as a paper banner which may be torn at the point ofsale to sell one carton or the whole assembly of cartons depending uponthe needs of the purchaser.

ln another aspect of this invention the cartons are formed with handleor gripping members useful alternatively to combine with the grippingmember of another unit assembled into a duplex to form a reenforcedsingle handle or carrying member, or an alternate handle useful forsupporting a single number when the duplex has been separated intoindividual units.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. l shows the blank of paper or othermaterial of which the unit box-type construction is formed by foldinginto a box.

Fig. 2 is an elevation in section of two assembled boxes, showingadjoining handles of each unit combined to a single handle and modied toshow a banding member at the top with open portions or windows in thesides for rendering the contents visible.

Fig. 3 is a conventional assembly of units formed from two unit blanksof Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of a single unit separated from the duplexshowing the alternate handle in raised position for carrying a singleunit.

Fig. 5 is a detail of a modied flap construction.

The blank from which the carton is made, as shown in Fig. l, is oftypical packing board, cardboard or other flexible material normallyused for cartons and comprises a single sheet which has been divided toform a bottom member 1t) and two side members 11 and 11b with adjoiningflaps 12 and 12' foldable upward from the bottom and flaps 13 and 13foldable inward from the sides. An adjoining top member 14 is furtherprovided with ilaps 15 and 15 for folding downward. Each of the flapswill be folded along dotted lines 16 which are indicated on the drawingto show folding lines and may have no other significance. However, thesepositions of folding lines 16 may be mechanically weakened by initiallyfolding or perforating to allow easy folding when the blank is to beassembled.

At one end of the rectangular blank, and integrally extending therefrom,is a handle member 17 shown as an extension of the side 11b. The handlemember 17 which may be of any shape is shown with a cutaway centralportion 18 for gripping as a handle member, but such cutaway portion 18need not be actually cut away in the blank but may be merely aperforated element which is easily removed when the extending portion 17is to be used as a handle. At the opposite end and forming part of thetop closure surface 14 is another handle member 19 similarly centrallyslotted at 20 for forming a linger containing or hand gripping means.Similarly this portion 20 need not be entirely ICC removed but may beremoved only when the handle member 19 is to be used.

Each of the aps 12, 13 and 15 are cut apart from each other by a seriesof cuts or grooves 2.1. The handle member 19 may be cut apart from thetop surface 14 at the portion 22, however this section needs merely tobe perforated for easy frangibility when the handle member 19 is to beused. 1t will also be noted that handle member 19 is rounded at theedge, but this portion need not be rounded but may be merely square, orany shape, to complete the top cover surface to avoid exposure of thecontents to moisture, etc.

As thus described the blank may be folded and assembled into a box-likecarton by folding any of the side or top llaps in sequence. Thus, thetop may be left open and each of the side and bottom aps 12, 12 and 13and 13' may be folded inwardly and then the carton may be lled with cansor bottles from the top followed by the iinal closure of the top byfolding flaps 15 and 15 inwardly. ln this position handle 1'7 willextend straight upwardly while handle 19 will lie flat as part of thetop surface 14.

1t is also possible to rst fold one set of aps 12. and 13 including thetop flap 15, leaving the other side aps 12', 13 and 15' open so that thecarton may be filled sidewise. It will be appreciated of course, thatthe bottles or cans may be inserted either from the open side or top tostand upwardly or vertically or they may be inserted to liehorizontally, whichever packaging form is more convenient for theproduct packaged. After filling from the side, the flaps 15', 13 and 12are finally folded inwardly to complete the closure of the carton.

Thereafter two cartons are assembled with handle members 17 and adjacentsides 11b contiguous and a frangible band 24 is placed around bothcartons to band the same into a unit duplex of the two cartons, bothhandle members 17 adjoining combine to form a single strong handle forthe entire assembly as shown in Fig. 2. The banding member 24 may bemerely strong wrapping paper easily frangible at the point of sale or itmay be of stronger construction such as of fabric or cardboard. However,it will be appreciated that the same is readily frangible by cutting ortearing the same without need of severing the entire box. After the band24 has been severed the duplex comes apart into two independent boxes.In this position the handle member 19 is lifted and folded essentiallyupward on the fold-line 16, so that such handle member adjoins thecenter line of the single unit for carrying the same in a balancedstate. The handle member 17 may then be folded downwardly to take theplace thereof and complete the closure of the carton as shown in Fig. 4.

The band 24 as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 is generally placed, forconvenience of packaging, about the middle of the assembled units.However for maximum support, the band should be positioned in the uppertwo-thirds area of the assembly. Thus, no great benefit is obtained fromthe standpoint of maximum strength by banding about the bottom, and theband should begin at about one-third of the distance of the top andbottom; but equal strength would be obtained if the band were placedmerely about the top as shown in the modification of Fig. 2. The bandmay be of any width and of course may cover the entire side walls of theassembled units but as indicated it is merely necessary to place thesame beginning about one-third from the bottom and generally terminatingabout one-third from the top for normal strength and ease of applicationof the band.

It will be noted that these boxes may be of any size, but as `shown, theflap members 13 and 13 are each half the width of the rectangular sidemembers 11 and 11b whereby in folded position they contact each other toclose as a pair of gates, their outer edges being substantially incontact. The top flap 15 folds downwardly and is of the same width butmerely serves to reenforce both of the gate members 13 for a portion oftheir longitudinal rectangular length. Similarly, aps 12 and 12 foldingupwardly and flaps 15 and 15 folding downwardly reenforce the gate-likeflaps 13 and 13' to reenforce them over both the upper and lowerportions o f the assembled cartn. At the central portion which is to becovered by the band there is no reenforcenrent other than the bandingmember 24.

If desired the gate-like ap's 13 and 13 may be made slightly narrower asshown in the detail of Fig.- 5 so that they will not touch each otherand leave an open slit therebetween. In such modification banner 24 maybe further perforated at 25 in a series of perforations to allow freeingress of air through the slit between narrower flaps 13 and 13'allowing the package t`o` be inspected when the frangible band 24 istorn and to allow ingress and egress of air at about the perforation 25.Thus, the entire package may b'e rapidly refrigerated or cooled. Forexample, it is customary to refrigerate large boxes of beverages andthey are commonly sold as refrigerated beverages. The perforations 25and open slit' section ofthe gate-like' fiaps 13 and 13 communicatingtherewith allows free air circulation and rapid refrigeration of thecartons.

As shown in Fig. 2 a desirable modification is to make the bottom, topand side fiaps, 12, 12', 13 and 13 considerably shorter so thatthey donot fold to completely enclose the ends of the box, but instead leave anopen window, so that the contents of the box may be quickly refrigeratedand have the benefit of vis'ual observation. Where such refrigeration isnon-essential, i. e. the type of product packaged does notneedrefrigeration, the open window space may be covered by cellophane orother transparent film as window material, as shown at 27 of Fig. 2 inthe right half of the drawing, the left half therefor being merely anopen area 26, the contents of both units of the assembly being visible.It is of course possible to cut windows in other portions of thecontainers, if desired. With such modification as pointed out above thebanding member 24 is applied around the top of the assembly in whichposition it will give substantially equal strength, moreover asindicated above the entire open portions 26 may be covered by thebanding member which itself may be transparent.

It has been difficult in the past for a manufacturer to package smallarticles such as canned and bottled goods in units of a salable number.Thus, to arbitrarily elect a package of l2 units would require timeconsuming careful cutting along the middle line of such package by thevendor in order to sever a large box to sell six of the total. Suchcutting of the package is laborious and produces an incompletelypackaged and difiicult to carry unit, and interferes with smooth fiow ofsales in a busy market.

By the present invention it is possible to package the half a dozen ordozen cans or bottles in a single unit and then band them together vwithother units so that the customer could purchase 6, l2 and 24 completelypackaged cans or bottles as he pleased. Moreover, according to thepresent invention each sub-unit has a convenient and well-balancedhandleA whereby one handle serves to reenforce the next for a largecarrying package where the entire duplex is purchased, using two handles17 for such carriage. Or, where a single unit is to be purchased, thenhandle 17 is folded down and the package is carried centrally by thesingle handle 19, which is strong enough to support the individual unitas separated from the complete assembly. y

Various modifications will occur tol those skilled in the art, the exactnumber of units in a single multiplex package may be modified; thus twomultiplex packages could be banded together by one or more bands 24,which may be ultimately severed into two or four sub-units. The exactmaterials of construction are not critical and are those fiexiblematerials useful in the `art for forming cartons; they may be made ofcorrugated board, of heavy wrapping paper, sized cloth, cardboard oreven of plastic. Similarlyband 24 may be made of strong paper, atransparent plastic material or even metallic wire frangibly separatedat the point of sale.

It is accordingly intended that the description herein be read asillustrative and not limiting except as set forth in the claims appendedhereto.

We claim:

l. A flat rectangular box board blank foldable into a box-type containercarton having short lateral cuts separating the edges into fiap memberslaterally adjoining each of two sides, a top and a bottom, said topmemb'er having t'Wo parallel longitudinal cuts spaced inwardly from theside edges thereof, the' same distance as the' 4- depth of said lateralcuts, and cut to the transverse cen-l ter line of said topmember todefine a cutaway portion equivalent to half of said top member andfoldable outwardly from the assembled carton to form an outwardlyprojecting flap, said fiap being perforated to allow frangible removalof an intermediate portion thereof to define a slot adapted to form afinger-gripping means therein and being centrally foldable of the topportion contiguous therewith to define a handle member when foldedupwardly, one of the sides of said carton disposed at the edge oppositeto said top member of said blank having an extended portion integraltherewith, said extended integral portion being centrally perforated toform a slot, said extended portion defining a second handle grippingmeans upon folding of said blank into a box whereby upon assembly saidsecond handle gripping means extends upwardly in the same plane as saidside member contiguous therewith, allowing assembly of another of suchunits into a duplex, whereby said second handle gripping means is usefulin combination with the handle gripping means of another such unit as are'enforced gripping means of the assembly, and in a separate u'nit thefirst said handle gripping means may be folded upwardly of the topthereof and the second handle means folded down in place thereof to forma unitary carton centrally supported by the first handle gripping means.

2. A duplex package comprising two independently merchandizable unitpackages, each unit comprising a foldable box type container unitadapted to be, filled with cans, bottles and the like and assembled intoa duplex having integrally formed sides, top and bottom having liapmembers integral with the edges thereof but severed from each other andfoldable inward to form ends of said carton, the flap members extendingfrom the top and bottom forming upper and lower reenforcement for theflap members foldable from the sides reenforcing the same over the topand bottom sections of their length but not in the center portionthereof, each of the fiap members extending from the sides of saidcarton having a width substantially less than half of the Width of saidcontiguous top, bottom and side members, one of the sides having anextended portion forming a handle member for the assembled unit, wherebyupon closure to form ends thereof a Wide open slot is left therebetweenexposing the contents of each unit in assembled package form, said unitsbeing assembled into a duplex with the sides of each unit which bear theextended handle member portion contiguous and with a` paper band bondingthe units together, said paper band being perforated with slots locatedat about the open portion of the ends allowing air circulation andvisual inspection of the exposed contents of each unit of said duplex,each carton of said duplex having adjacent sides as assembled integrallyextended upwardly above the top of said duplex, each being slotted forfinger gripping means and adapted in combination to form a single handlecarrying means for the duplex assembly.

3. A duplex unit formed by banding two unit containers as defined inclaim 2 together, said banding member being of sufficient width, tocover said slots and having perforation through said banding memberaligned with said slots allowing atmospheric communication with theinterior of each of said containers.

4. A duplex package consisting of an assembly of two independent paperboard cartons, each carton having a half top closure extending from oneside and continuing integrally into a second half top closure tocomplete said top, said second continuing half top closure beinghingedly connected to the first half top closure and perforated to forma handle member, the opposite side of said carton having a second handlemember of substantially the same size as said first handle membercontinuing upwardly as an extension of said side above the top of saidcarton and hinged to said side to be foldable into the top inapproximately the same top closure position as the first handle member,whereby each handle member is alternately usable for support of saidcarton, said cartons being assembled into a duplex by securing themtogether with a frangible banding member with the second handle membersof each carton adjacent, whereby said duplex assembly is supportable byboth said second lhandle members, and each carton, separated from theassembly, is centrally supported by the first handle member foldedupwardly from the top, with the second handle member folded downwardlyfrom the side in top closure substitution.

5. The duplex assembly of two paper board cartons as defined in claim 4,each paper board carton having openings in the sides thereof foratmospheric exposure of the contents, said frangible banding membersecuring said cartons into a single unit being placed near the top ofboth units to avoid covering of side openings.

6. A paper carton adapted for individual support by one handle memberhinged to the center of the top thereof or alternatively supportedjointly with another similarpaper carton banded together therewith by asecond handle member extending from a side thereof in cooperation withthe handle member of another carton when assembled therewith, saidcarton having a half top closure extending from one side and continuingintegrally into a second half top closure to complete said top, saidsecond continuing half top closure being hingedly connected to the iirsthalf top closure and perforated to form a handle member, the oppositeside of said carton having a second handle member of substantially thesame size as said first handle member continuing upwardly as anextension of said side above the top of said carton and hinged to saidside to be foldable into the top in approximately the same top closureposition as the rst handle member, whereby each handle member isalternately usable, the rst handle member for support of the individualcarton when carried as a single carton and the second handle member forsupport in combination with a similar handle member of another carton ofa duplex of two such cartons when banded together,

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,732,264 Ferguson Oct. 22, 1929 2,106,276 Heineman Jan. 25,1938 2,151,733 Boneld Mar. 28, 1939 2,202,153 Jones May 28, 19402,293,342 Inman Aug. 18, 1942 2,306,343 Neubecker Dec. 22, 19422,351,417 Ferguson June 13, 1944 2,352,075 Brownstein June 20, 19442,354,600 Kretchmer July 25, 1944 2,365,887 Lind Dec. 26, 1944 2,414,659Montague Ian. 21, 1947 2,533,773 De La Foret Dec. 12, 1950 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 231,940 Great Britain Apr. 14, 1929 435,256Great Britain Sept. 16, 1935 853,499 France Mar. 20, 1940

